Chullpa

Recent research has focused on the connection between chullpas and the ritual pathways etched into the landscape around Nevado Sajama, as well as possible patterns within chullpa sites.

[1] Corpses in each tomb were typically placed in a fetal position along with some of their belongings, including clothing and common equipment.

In virtually all cases, the only opening to the tomb faces the rising sun in the east.

At Sillustani, many of the chullpas have lizards, which were considered a symbol of life because they could regenerate their tails, carved into the stone.

Very similar stone constructions on Easter Island known as tupa have sometimes been suspected to be closely related to chullpas.